Remarks on the genus Ichnusella (Crustacea, Copepoda, Harpacticoida) and description of two species from subterranean freshwater habitats in Latium and Sardinia, Italy

This work concerns the description and discussion of two new species of Ich nusella collected in subterranean freshwater, near the rivermouth of some I talian rivers and streams. I. tertia n. sp. has been collected in the inter stitial habitat of the Flora River and from the small Valfragida Stream (Vi terbo Province, Latium); this species has been studied using scanning elect ron microscopy. I. longifurca n, sp. is described from a similar phreatic h abitat of De ii Saldi Stream (Sassari Province, Sardinia). In addition new morphological features for I. pasquinii (Cottarelli, 1969) and I. eione Cot tarelli, 1971 are described. An amended generic diagnosis and a key to the four known species are presented. Some remarks on the ecology and distribut ion of these species are also given.